Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe

Copycat Italian Dressing

Don’t you just love the all-you-can-eat salads at Olive Garden? Especially with those warm breadsticks and yummy Zuppa Toscana!

I could easily make a meal with just salad and breadsticks. The salad is simple: lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, olives, croutons, and Parmesan cheese. Oh, I almost forgot the little pickled pepperoncini. 

Well, guess what? You can easily duplicate this salad at home with your own homemade Italian dressing! I even have a recipe for croutons that are the best, a hundred times better than store bought.

Why make your own dressing?

It’s healthier. You won’t find artificial ingredients in this dressing. No “natural flavors,” or maltodextrin, or xanthan gum. Just good-for-you olive oil, vinegar, herbs and seasonings.

Homemade is fresher. You can whip it up in less than 5 minutes.

It’s economical. You probably have the ingredients you need right in your pantry. And you know what?

Homemade dressing tastes way better!

About this Easy Italian Vinaigrette

This Italian dressing is a basic vinaigrette: oil, vinegar, seasonings. You can whisk it together in a small bowl or shake it up in a jar. Make it ahead — it will keep for at least a week in the refrigerator.

Ingredient Notes

• Extra virgin olive oil: I like to use a good quality olive oil because it tastes so good and is heart-healthy. Other mild tasting oils are fine, too, like canola or grapeseed oil.
• White wine vinegar or red wine vinegar. Both are great; white wine vinegar is a little less tangy. Sometimes I make this dressing with balsamic vinegar and that’s delicious, too.
• Dried herbs: So easy, and they taste great. If you have fresh herbs, those are fantastic, too. For authentic Italian flavor, I like oregano, basil, and parsley.
• Seasonings: Add garlic powder, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes, or more than a pinch, if you like zesty Italian dressing.

How To Use Italian Dressing

Green salad: Use your Italian dressing to create a copycat Olive Garden-style salad or make your own fresh green salad with your favorite toppings.

Pasta salad: If you’re looking for an easy recipe for pasta salad, simply mix up a batch of this Italian dressing and stir it into your favorite pasta and veggie mix. It’s simple! If you’d like recipes, try this Caprese pasta salad or tortellini pasta salad with pepperoni.

Sandwiches/wraps: Besides leafy green salads and pasta salads, Italian dressing is great on sandwiches and wraps.

Marinade: Use it to marinate chicken or shrimp. Marinate olives, tomatoes, veggies, or fresh mozzarella cheese for a delightful appetizer.

Easy Recipe Variations

• Creamy Italian dressing: Try this recipe for creamy Italian dressing, made with Greek yogurt. If you prefer, use mayonnaise instead.
• Make it cheesy: Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
• Use lemon juice: Substitute lemon juice for the vinegar, and add the zest of one lemon, for lemony Italian vinaigrette.
• Make an Italian marinade: Reduce oil by one half. Add to chicken, pork, or beef in a zip top bag and marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Use fresh herbs instead of dried, and double the amount called for. Dressing made with fresh herbs won’t keep quite as long.

Storage Tips

Store leftover dressing in a small jar in the fridge for up to one week. Remember, you can make a new batch in less than five minutes!